WindEurope 2017
As the wind industry continues its unprecedented growth, over 8,000 participants will be converging at the WindEurope Conference & Exhibition in the Amsterdam RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre from 28 to 30 November. The event, organised in partnership with WindEurope and The Netherlands Wind Energy Association (NWEA), will build on the tremendous momentum that wind power has achieved in recent years. “Considerable efforts have been made by industry to make renewable energy cheaper than fossil fuels”, says Event Ambassador and Vestas CEO Anders Runevad. “It’s now time for markets, infrastructure and policies to reflect this reality.”
Local Growth and Global Leadership
The event will have two interlocking areas of focus: a macro-economic overview will demonstrate that wind is powering Europe’s transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, while a micro-economic focus will show the immediate benefits wind brings to specific countries and regions in terms of jobs, industry and innovation. This two-tiered approach is the core of WindEurope’s flagship report, ‘Local Impact, Global Leadership,’ to be presented in Amsterdam. “Wind energy is making significant contributions to national and regional economies,” says WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson. “Amsterdam will highlight this and set out an agenda for how regions in Europe and elsewhere can reap the economic benefits of wind.” Over the course of three days, the Dutch capital will become the epicentre of knowledge exchange, thought-leadership and debate in the wind energy sector. This comes at a particularly urgent time, according to Event Ambassador Markus Tacke, CEO of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, who says, “The challenges of climate change, energy security and Europe’s industrial stability are more intense than ever before. Wind power is an important part of the solution.”
The Conference and the Exhibition
In light of this, the Amsterdam conference will deliver insight from the industrial and scientific community, providing delegates with an agenda which encompasses technical, political and commercial content. Event Ambassador Hans-Dieter Kettwig of ENERCON states that, “The main requirement for the wind industry and green, sustainable growth in Europe is a stable, reliable and long-term political framework post-2020.” Echoing this, Event Ambassador Gunnar Groebler of Vattenfall adds, “Together with European policy-makers, we need to discuss how the regulatory environment for renewable energy can support both competitive renewable energy and a firm social and political outlook for the energy transition and further renewable growth.” The conference in Amsterdam is where such a regulatory environment will be discussed. These political and market-oriented discussions will make up part of a wide-ranging conference programme, where 35 conference sessions, covering eight topics, will keep attendees up to speed with the latest developments in every aspect of the wind sector, including market developments, supply chain, turbine technology and much more. In the meantime, the exhibition floor will give major players in the wind industry the chance to connect – over 400 exhibitors will be doing business at this event. Delegates will also have the opportunity to benefit from an abundance of exclusive networking opportunities with confirmed exhibitors including industry leaders such as Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Senvion, Vestas and Prysmian Group. Speaking about the opportunities available at WindEurope’s Conference and Exhibition, Mr Dickson states, “Whether you are an industry leader or an emerging player, on or offshore, there is simply no better place to be this year.”